Electric vehicle with steering column extending through battery pack

Abstract

An electric vehicle and a powertrain for an electric vehicle are disclosed. According to an embodiment, an electric vehicle includes a steering system with a steering column, and a battery pack having a battery enclosure and a plurality of battery modules housed within the battery enclosure. The battery enclosure defines a slot that extends from at least a top surface of the battery enclosure to receive the steering column.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An electric vehicle, comprising:
 a steering system comprising a steering column; and 
 a battery pack comprising a battery enclosure and a plurality of battery modules housed within the battery enclosure, the battery enclosure defining a slot that extends from at least a top surface of the battery enclosure to receive the steering column, wherein the slot divides a portion of the battery enclosure into a first side and a second side, wherein each of the first side and the second side houses one or more of the plurality of electric battery modules. 
 
     
     
       2. The electric vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the slot is substantially straight. 
     
     
       3. The electric vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the steering column received by the slot is substantially straight. 
     
     
       4. The electric vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the slot extends from the top surface of the battery enclosure to a front side surface of the battery enclosure. 
     
     
       5. The electric vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the slot extends from the top surface of the battery enclosure to a bottom surface of the battery enclosure. 
     
     
       6. The electric vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the steering system comprises a handlebar attachment coupled to an upper portion of the steering column. 
     
     
       7. The electric vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the steering system comprises at least one steering arm coupled to a lower portion of the steering column. 
     
     
       8. The electric vehicle of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one ski assembly coupled to the at least one steering arm. 
     
     
       9. The electric vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the slot is positioned substantially centrally with respect to a first side wall and a second side wall of the battery enclosure. 
     
     
       10. The electric vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the slot defines a bottom surface, the bottom surface extending at an angle of between 30-60 degrees with respect to a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis of the electric vehicle. 
     
     
       11. The electric vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the slot is between 30 millimeters (mm) and 60 mm. 
     
     
       12. The electric vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the steering system comprises a mount coupled to the top surface of the battery enclosure to support an upper portion of the steering column. 
     
     
       13. The electric vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the battery enclosure is a structural component suitable for receiving loads from the steering column and transferring the loads to a chassis of the electric vehicle. 
     
     
       14. The electric vehicle of  claim 1 , further comprising a straddle-seat coupled to the battery pack. 
     
     
       15. The electric vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the electric vehicle is a snowmobile. 
     
     
       16. An electric snowmobile, comprising:
 a chassis comprising a rear tunnel and a front brace structure; 
 a steering system comprising a steering column; and 
 a battery enclosure defining a tunnel portion and a front portion, the tunnel portion being connected to the rear tunnel of the chassis and the front portion being connected to the front brace structure, wherein the front portion of the battery enclosure defines a slot that extends downwards from a top surface of the battery enclosure for receiving the steering column, wherein the slot divides the front portion of the battery enclosur to a first si cond side, wherein each of the first side and the secc ad houses one or more ry modules. 
 
     
     
       17. The electric snowmobile of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one ski assembly connected to the steering system. 
     
     
       18. A battery pack for an electric vehicle, the battery pack comprising:
 a plurality of battery modules; and 
 a battery enclosure housing the plurality of battery modules the battery enclosure defining:
 a slot extending from a top surface of the battery enclosure to receive a steering column of the electric vehicle; and 
 a rear portion, a front portion first side, and a front portion second side, the front portion first side and the front portion second side being seperated by the slot; 
 wherein each of the rear portion, the front portion first side, and front portion and second side house at least one battery module.